World War II Honoree

Harold Waine Wilson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Lawton, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

GIVEN A DRAFT DEFERMENT DUE TO HIS CIVILIAN JOB, HE NEVERTHELESS ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN 1943. APPLIED FOR AND WAS ACCEPTED FOR AIRCREW TRAINING. TRAINED AS A PILOT/NAVIGATOR ON B-29 'SUPERFORTRESS' BOMBER AIRCRAFT. HIS UNIT WAS SCHEDULED FOR ASSIGNMENT TO THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER, BUT JUST PRIOR TO DEPLOYMENT, HE WAS SENT BACK HOME ON COMPASSIONATE LEAVE. BY THE TIME HE RETURNED FOR DUTY, HIS BOMBER GROUP HAD ALREADY DEPLOYED. HE WAS REASSIGNED AS A B-29 INSTRUCTOR AT MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY WHERE HE SPENT THE REMAINDER OF THE WAR. SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER DURING THE WAR. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.